Massaging machine



@CL 24, 1933. C. A MA1-SON MASSAGING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May31, 1930 18| lll za* L' 2'71 vena :4 m

l 'O 74 716g Oct 24, 1933- c. A. MATsoN MASSAGING' MACHINE Filed May 51,1930 2 sheets-sheet 2 77 0677 for. (24,@ /udzzm/ llllllllnwllll'zlln11111111111111111111' ffl/III] Patented oci. 24, 1933 NETEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE My present invention relates to massaging machines.n

An important object of the present invention resides in the provision ofa massaging machine having a plurality of massaging lingers, with meanstoimpart a step-by-step movement to each of said fingers during theirtravel in a predetermined path.

The step-by-step movement above referred to will' be accomplished atrelatively high speed, so

that a vibratory effect on the portion of the bodyA being massaged willbe obtained simultaneously with the massaging or kneading effect.

The combined vibratory and kneading movements of the massaging fingerswill produce a stimulating effect not heretofore attained by any priordevice of which I am aware.

Another object of my invention resides in mounting the motor directlyuponthe housing for the finger operating mechanism, thus eliminating thenecessity of flexible driving shafts or other torque transmitting means.

A still further feature of the present invention resides in thecompactness of structure resulting from the novel driving mechanismutilized.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a novel clutchdrive, which eliminates all worms and worm gearing in the machine. Thisresults in considerably less friction, and enables me to utilize aconsiderably smaller and less powerful motor than would be required withworm gear driving mechanisms. My device is also considerably quieterbecause of my novel driving mechanism, a feature which will be inrstantly appreciated.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means toprevent reverse movement of the clutch driving devices during operation.

Other features and objects of the invention reside in the particularconstruction and arrangement of the various parts of my novel device.

The above and other features and objects of the invention, details ofconstruction, combinations of parts, and advantages, will be hereinaftermore lfully pointed out, described and claimed.

Referring to' the drawings illustrating preferred embodiments or" thepresent invention,-

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional View on the line 1`1 of Fig. 2,; l

Fig. 2 is a plan sectional View on the line 2--2 f Fis. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

' mounted on top of the plate 11.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View illustrating a modified type ofmassaging finger;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a still furthermodified form of massaging finger; 60

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modied form of machine with the ringeroperating mechanism' illustrated in cross section, on the lines 6-6 ofFig.V 8; Y

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional View on the line 7,-7 65 of Fig. 6;

Fig.` 8` is a plan sectional view on the line 8-8 of Fig. 6; 1

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the gear segment and sliding block; 70

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view on the line 10-10 of Fig. 11,illustrating a modification of the device; and

Fig. 11 is a plan sectional View on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring now to the drawings, for a particular description of theinvention, its construction, assembly and operation, 1 designates amotor havingan operating switch 2 therefor, a handle 3 being xed to themotor housing, and current conducting wires 4 leading to said motor fromany suitable source of electric energy, the 'same as illustrated in Fig.6. Y

Fixed to the motor housing 1 by screws 6 is a casing 5 having a bottomplate 7 held thereto in 85 any desired manner, by screws 22.

The motor shaft 8 depends through the top of' the casing 5 and haspinned thereto at its lower end an eccentric 9. This eccentric 9` islocated in an elongated slot 10 in a plate 11, said plate being seatedover the journal 12 of a disc 13.V Positioned in the recess 14 in theplate 11 is a roller 15, a plunger 16 being forced against said rollerbyra coiled spring 17 seated in a tubular chamber 18 in the plate 11.The recess 14 is of greatest -width at the end adjacentto the plunger16, the roller being greater in diameter than the width of said recess14 throughout the major portion of the length of saidrecess. A gear 19is secured to the disc 13 by pins 20 or in any other desired manner.Three Vother gears 21 are symmetrically arranged within the casing 5 onthe bottom plate '7, the four gears l19 and 21 being constantly in mesh.

Projecting through the disc 13, gear 19, and 105 bottom plate '7, is astem 23, said stem being headed over at its upper end in a washer 24 nAt the lower end of the stem 23 isa hemispherical member 25, a finger 26being iixed to saidv member 25 in 110 step; movement.

an angular position. Fixed to each of the gears 21 is a stem 27, eachhaving a hemispherical member and fingers 25 fixed thereto at an angle.A conical member 28 is held on each finger 26 for the purpose ofreceiving suitable massaging nipples or devices.

The operation of my present machine is simple and will be readilyunderstood, being briefly described as follows:

Rotation being imparted to the motor shaft 8 and hence to the eccentric9, said eccentric 9 will revolve within the slot 19 in the plate 11, forexample, as indicated in the direction oi the arrow in Fig. 2.

The rotation of the eccentric 9 will tend to effect a rotative movementoi the plate 11 about the journal 12, but when such rotative movement ofthe plate 1l is initiated, the roller 15 will be gripped between thewall of the recessy 14 and the periphery oi the journal 12. This will,ineflect, clamp the journal 12 to the plate 11,

kand cause aY slight rotative movement of said journal 12 and hence ofthe disc 13 and gear 19. The gears 21` intermeshing with the gear 19Ywill f likewise receive this slight rotative movement.

After the eccentric 9 passes top center and starts downwardly on theopposite side of the shaft S, as illustrated in Fig. 2, a rotativemovement of the plate 11 in the opposite direction about the jourf nal12 will be effected.

This movement will cause the roller 15l to enter the. larger end of therecess 14, and` thus will not eiect a rotative movement of the journal12 .in a reversedirection. ll-cwever, in order to obviate anypossibility, due trs-friction or otherwise,

of a reverse movement of thejournal 12, I providea bracket 29- nzsed, tothe inner wall of the casing 5, and in this bracket 29 is a recess 30,vanhang-ed roller 31 being seated in said recess and engaging theperiphery of the disc 13. This roller :S1-has a spring pressed plunger32 bearing thereagainst, and should any reverse movement of the disc.1-3- be initiated, the roller 31 will bind between; the wall ofv therecess and periphery of the disc 13, effectual-ly discouraging anyattempt on the part of the disc 13 to reverse itself. Continued rotationot the eccentric 9 will, of course, rotate the journal 12 and hence thegears 19 and 21 in a rotational direction in a step-by- Thisstep-by-step rotational movement will alsobe imparted to the ngers 26,resulting in a Vibratory. massaging. action on that portion of the bodywhich is being operated upon. The; lingers 26 are soarranged that theywill aping said common center simultaneously, and thus effecting adesired kneading action upon the skin.

andI surface iiesh or n-lusclesv of the portion of the body undertreatment.

The advantages,benets, simplicity, and efciency of; my novel device willbe instantly apparent to those skilled in this art.

In Fig. 4 i have illustrated a modified type of driving gear 33, havinga journal portion 34 adapted to be engaged by the roller 15. A modifiedtype of ringer 35 isalso illustrated, said nger having a stem 36- iixedlto the gear 33, and said finger 35V heinCT perpendicular to said gear. Acircular aperture 37 is provided in the bottom plate 71, permitting thefinger 35 to travel in a true` circular direction. The structure of thedevice would otherwise be similar to that rabove described, the effectof this modified ringer structure producing. a slightly different actionon the portion of` the bod-y being treated..

In Fig. 5 is illustrated a still further modiied form of finger 38, thegear 39 being similar to the gear 33, but having a recess 40 formedtherein. The rounded end 41 of the stem 42 is seated in said recess 40,and a spherical bearing portion 43 is provided between the ringer 38 andstem 42, a suitable bearing 44 being provided in the bottom plates 45 toaccommodate the spherical bearing portion 43. The roundedend 41 of thefinger will thus be movedl in a circular path.` The inger 38 beinglonger than the stern 42, however, the outer end of the inger 38 will bemoved in a cirlcular path of greaterl diameter than the path of.

movement of the rounded end 4l.

v Each oi the types of lingers 35 and 38 is applicable to my presentdevice, the fingers 38, however, requirinfr a deeper casing 46 than isrequired in thev other types of ngers.

In Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive I havev illustrated a modiiie'd device whereinthe movement of the fingersi) is an oscillation instead of a rotation,or in other words, the back and forth movement as distinguished. from apurely rotative action.

Inv this form of the invention the motor shaft 'also has the eccentric 9rotating in the elongated slot 10 in the plate 11. The plate 1.1 isseated over the journal 51 of a disc 52, said disc being held to thecasing 5 by a supporting rivet 53, or the like. A screw 54 is threadedinto the disc 52, and mounted on vsaid screw is a block 55, said blockbeing slidable in a rectangular recess 56 in a plate 57, said platehaving one end thereof formed. asa gear segment 58, said plate beingpivotall'y mounted on a post 59 secured to the bottom. `plate 60. Thedisc 52 is rotatable about its support. 53. Mounted on the gear 61 is apinion 62 in mesh with the gear segment 58,

and gears 63 are also in mesh with and actuatedV by the gear. 61'. Theplate 1'1 is provided 'with the roller 15 in the recess 14, said rollerengaging the journal 51 of the disc 52 and rotating said journal'in thesame manner as the journal 12 is rotated. As rotation is imparted to thejournall 51 and disc 52, the screw 54 will be carried by said disc aboutthe support 53, tending also to carry the block therewith.v Because ofthe fixed pivot point of the segment plate 57, houever, block 55 will beforced to ride in theY recess 56, thus oscillating the plate 57 aboutits pivot 59. 62 will be actuated rst in one direction and then in areverse direction. This oscillating movement of' the pinion 62 will inturn be transmitted to the gears 61 and 63. Thel bottom plate 60 isfixed to the casing 5` by screws 64, and is provided with a plurality ofarcuate or horse shoe shaped slots 65 within which thev stems 66 of thelingers 5i) will travel. By the time that the iingers 50 have traversedthe slots 65 to one end thereof, the gear segment 53 will have completedits travel in one direction, and will be ready to return, rotating thepinion 62 in a reverse direction, and thus actuating the gears 61 and 63to carry thelingers 50 backwards along the slots 65.

The movement of the fingers 50, in their predetermined arcuate pathswill, of course, be in a step-by-step motion, similar to thestep-bystep: movement impartedI to the iingers 26.

In each of the devices' illustrated in the present application, due tothe double action, viz., the step-by-step movement coupled with therotating or oscillating movement, there will be no slippage of themassaging fingers on the portion of the body being operated upon, butinstead there will be a iirm gripping of the fingers to As the plate 57oscillates, the pinion produce the desired massaging and kneadingeffect.

If desired, the bracket 29 and roller 3l may be utilized in this form ofthe device, the roller 31 hearing against the periphery of the disc 52and efectually preventing its movementl in a reverse direction to thatintended.

Also, if desired,'and as illustrated in Fig. 10, the fingers 26illustrated in Fig. ll may be utilized instead of the fingers 50. Themovement of the fingers 26, however, instead of being in a closed pathrotation, will be in an arcuate path similar to the ngers 50, because ofthe particular drive utilized in this form of the device.

The various forms and movements illustrated and described herein are allwell Within the range and scope of my present invention, and I have,therefore, incorporated same in the claims of this application. Y

While I have necessarily described my present invention somewhat indetail, it will be appreciated that I may vary the size, shape, andarrangement of parts, within reasonably wide limits without departingfrom the spirit of the invention.

My invention is further described and defined in the form of claims asfollows:

l. In a machine of the kind described, a plurality of massaging fingersadapted to simultaneously engage a surface to be massaged, and camoperated means to impart a step-by-step rotative movement to saidfingers.

2. In a machine of the kind described, a piurality of massaging fingersadapted to simultaneously engage a surface to be massaged, and camoperated friction means to impart a step-bystep rotative movement tosaid lingers.

3. In a machine of the kind described, a plurality of massaging fingers,and means to move said lingers toward a common center while imparting astep-by-step rotative movement to each of said fingers.

4. In a machine of the kind described,A a casing, a plurality ofintermeshing gears mounted in said casing, a massaging linger operatedby each gear, an actuating member fixed to one of said gears, and meansto rotate said member in a step-by-step movement.

5. In a machine of the kind described, a casing, a plurality ofintermeshing gears mounted in said casing, amassaging fingeroperated byveach gear, an actuating member fixed to one of said gears, and frictionmeans to rotate said member in a step-by-step movement.

6. In a machine of the kind described, a casing, a plurality ofintermeshing gears mounted in said casing, a massaging finger operatedby each gear, an actuating member fixed to one of said gears, and camoperated friction meansv to rotate said member in a step-by-stepmovement.

7. A massaging device comprising a motor, a casing fixed to said motor,a motor shaft projecting into said casing, an eccentric on said shaft, aclutch plate having an elongated slot in which said eccentric is seated,a plurality of gears symmetrically arranged Within said casing, amassaging linger associated with each of said gears, a disc fixed to oneof said gears, a journal on-said disc, and a spring pressed frictionmember carried by said plate and adapted to engage said journal andimpart a step-by-step movement thereto.

9. A massaging device comprising a motor, a casing fixed to said motor,a motor shaft projecting into said casing, an eccentric on said shaft, aclutch plate having an elongated slot in Which said eccentric is seated,a plurality of gears symmetrically arranged withinA said casing, amassaging finger associated with each of Vsaid gears, a disc fixed toone of said gears, a jouryreverse movement thereof.

10. A massaging device comprising a moto-r, a casing fixed to saidmotor, a motor shaft projecting into said casing, an eccentric on saidshaft, a clutch plate having an elongated slot in which said eccentricis seated, a plurality of gears symmetrically arranged within saidcasing, a massaging finger associated with each of said gears, a discfixed to one of said gears, a journal on said disc, and a frictionmember carried by said plate and adapted to engage said journal andimpart a step-by-step movement thereto and to the gear to which saiddisc is fixed, the other said gears being in turn actuated by said iirstgear.

11. A massaging device comprising a motor, a casing fixed to said motor,a motor shaft projecting into said casing, an eccentric on said shaft, aclutch plate having an elongated slot in which said eccentric is seated,a plurality of gears symmetrically arranged within said casing, a discfixed to one of said gears, a journal on said disc, a friction membercarried Yby said plate and adapted to engage said journal and impart astep-by-step movement thereto and to the gear to which said disc isfixed, the other said gears being in turn. actuated by said first gear,anda massaging linger associated with each` of said gears, whereby thestep-by-step movement of said gears will be imparted to said fingers,said fingers being arranged to travel in a predetermined path.

CARL A. MA'rsoN.v

